Culture & Lifestyle • Religion

MLC (Mormon Literature and Culture)

MLC most commonly refers to Mormon Literature & Creative Arts, a database and research resource about literary and artistic works by and about Latter-day Saints.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

MLC most commonly refers to Mormon Literature & Creative Arts, a database and research resource about literary and artistic works by and about Latter-day Saints. It is associated with the study of Mormon literature, a field covering writing produced by or about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and related Latter Day Saint traditions.

Overview

MLC refers to the study and collection of Mormon literature and culture, especially as organized in the Mormon Literature & Creative Arts database. The field includes fiction, poetry, essays, criticism, and related artistic works linked to Latter-day Saint life and identity.

Mormon literature

Mormon literature is a broad term for writing by Mormon or Latter-day Saint authors, and writing about Mormon experience, belief, history, or culture. It includes both religious and secular works and can overlap with broader American and Canadian literary studies.

Notable authors

Frequently cited Mormon or Latter-day Saint authors include Nephi Anderson, Orson Scott Card, Stephenie Meyer, and Maurine Whipple. The category is broad and includes both historical and contemporary writers, some of whom identify culturally with Mormonism rather than as practicing members.

Organizations and resources

Mormon Literature & Creative Arts is a database sponsored by Brigham Young University, while the Association for Mormon Letters is an independent nonprofit society. They are related to the same field but are different kinds of institutions.

Key facts

MLC is used as a shorthand for Mormon Literature and Culture, and also appears in the title Mormon Literature & Creative Arts.
The Mormon Literature & Creative Arts database compiles information on literary works and other creative works by and about Latter-day Saints.
The resource began in the mid-1990s as a catalogue of Mormon authors and literature and later expanded into a broader database.
Mormon literature usually refers to writing by, for, and about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and related communities.
The Association for Mormon Letters is a separate nonprofit organization that promotes scholarship and creative writing in Mormon literature.

🍁

Canadian context

Canadian readers may encounter Mormon literature through Canadian Latter-day Saint writers, scholars, and university collections, especially in religious studies and North American literature courses.

Frequently asked questions

What is MLC?

MLC is a shorthand for Mormon Literature and Culture, usually referring to the study and documentation of literature and creative works connected to Mormon and Latter-day Saint life.

What does MLC stand for?

MLC stands for Mormon Literature and Culture.

What is Mormon literature?

Mormon literature is writing by, for, or about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and related Latter Day Saint communities, including fiction, poetry, essays, and criticism.

Who are famous Mormon authors?

Often cited Mormon or Latter-day Saint authors include Orson Scott Card, Stephenie Meyer, Nephi Anderson, and Maurine Whipple.

Is MLC a journal or a society?

Neither. MLC usually refers to a field or database of Mormon literature and culture; the Association for Mormon Letters is the related society, and Mormon Literature & Creative Arts is the database.

References

Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library — https://ldsl.lib.byu.edu/
Supports: Describes the Mormon Literature & Creative Arts Database as a resource for literary works by and about Latter-day Saints, including information on authors and works.
Mormon Literature Website — https://mldb.byu.edu/
Supports: Shows the earlier Mormon Literature website connected to Gideon Burton and the Mormon literature database project.
Academic source — https://www.academia.edu/1899165/Hearts_of_the_Children_of_Men_The_Literature_of_the_Mormon_Cultural_Renaissance
Supports: Discusses Mormon literature as a literary field and names notable Mormon writers.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_for_Mormon_Letters
Supports: States that the Association for Mormon Letters is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to foster scholarly and creative work in Mormon literature.
Brigham Young University — https://www.byu.edu/
Supports: Supports the institutional connection of Mormon literature resources to BYU.